Mountain and Valley

July is a month to be out-of-doors. Despite my shade hat I have freckles and a farmer's tan to prove I've been out there gardening and walking.
I was fortunate enough this month to attend the Wildflower Festival at Alta. Albion meadow has amazingly beautiful flowers in July. Tracy and I walked the upper trail with dear friends and a good guide. It was a blue-skied heaven. Camera in hand, I fell silent as the day wove me into it's spell. The first few pictures are from that walk. Please note that I felt quite daring capturing the bumblebee among the bluebells.

The second set of photos were taken the 24th of July in my son and daughter-in-law's newly acquired backyard. It is a sweet flower-filled haven. After I put down my camera, I picked up my pencil and sketchbook. I love hollyhocks and they come in a rainbow of colors in their yard. (Not to mention all the roses, sunflowers, clematis and lilies!) The butterfly and the honeybee (wow, I must 'bee' lucky this month) seemed to be contented residents there.

White columbine is my favorite wildflower.

Shooting stars, hiding shyly beside a stone.

Indian Paintbrush.
It comes in many colors in the meadow. Paintbrush apparently takes it's color cues from whatever plants are nearby that it has conveniently tapped into.

I was surprised as I looked through the camera and discovered what Indian Paintbrush looks like from directly above it.

This little fellow serenaded us by singing in the willows.

Pausing next to a vast stand of bluebells, I could hear the little creek further down the hill and a gentle choral thrum of busy bees.

And now, into the valley:

Just one of many, many Hollyhocks.


Bee at tippy-top of Hollyhock

I couldn't resist this sunflower

Could not help but think of the times I'd held cloth aloft to the sun wishing to be awash in the change of light beneath it.

This is a center detail of a Daylily. What secrets are kept deep in a lilie's heart?

This shot was a truly lucky one as I just happen to be laying on the grass as this butterfly, fluttered by. Click on it (or any photo you desire) for more detail.

Next month: Gen Con and Grass Roots Shakespeare

Sweet Peas

June was quite a month for huge blessings in Thumbalina-sized packages.
This is my third year growing a little vegetable patch at the community garden. This is the first year that I've attempted one of my favorites; sugar snap peas. It was a bumper crop. I decided to photograph them as though I was Alice in Wonderland. And yes, I tried to avoid it, but of course there was mud involved, but not on the camera!

The second set of photos are from my rose bushes.it's been an amazing year for roses.

The third set are of my newest granddaughter; Alexandria Diane Peterson, our Thumbalina who was born June 22nd at just 17 inches and 5lbs and change. She is already growing into her name. Many thanks to her mother, Angel, for allowing me to do this photo shoot ala Anne Geddes and giving me the chance to use her very fine Cannon Rebel camera. The two of us learned that you need about 6 baby wranglers to make it all happen or one determined grandmother, a willing mom and a mostly cooperative baby. (Where did that binky go?) Angel post-processed the photos of Alex like the pro she is. Please enjoy and click on the photos you wish to see in larger detail. --Laura

P.S. The musicbox this month is set so it doen't play automatically. Just push play. It's worth listening to Jewel's sweet guitar version of Twinkle ,Twinkle Little Star. It has all the verses!

Curiouser and curiouser!

I discovered water on foliage this month. Gotta' experiment more with that!

I loved the abundant roses this year and they were huge too.

This rose reminded me of the billowy petticoats that were worn in the 50's

I often use one of my photos or a detail for the 'skin' on my musicbox. This pink lady was the winner of that honor this month.

I could not resist enlarging a center detail of this rose. I was fascinated by the dew in her petals.

Ah! And now to the sweetest rose of the season: